props magazine

This summer in Chicago has had some hot, humid days – the kind that leave me sprawled in a bare minimum of clothing in a puddle on the floor, wishing for nothing more than a handful of cabana boys to fan me gently and feed me frozen grapes. And when it reaches that kind of temperature and humidity, I tend to enjoy multiple cold showers a day with sweet-smelling soaps to stay cool. That's where Long Winter Farm comes into my life.

I first came upon this lovely little shop when its proprietress, Maine mama Amanda Nolan, was a featured seller on Etsy. Amanda lives with her husband and two children in a yurt for part of the year, and theirs is a bit of a family business. She whips up an intoxicating range of soaps, lip balms, and lotions, like those shown above, and Joe packages the orders for shipment.

Long Winter Farm's soaps are super fatted, making them gentler on the skin during washings. My own skin tends to be pretty sensitive, but I was singing the soap's praises after just one wash. My skin didn't feel itchy or dried out, in need of moisture, and the bar lathered up almost instantly with thick, creamy bubbles. Thrilled with the results, I recently bought two extra bars of the Lavender Bergamot soap to share with my future mother-in-law and her sister. They both were smitten with the simple packaging – every bar comes tucked neatly into a pretty cotton drawstring bag – and the scent, which is strong but not overpowering.

Now that summer days are dwindling, I'm looking toward the cooler temps on the horizon. In the winter, my skin routinely becomes dried-out and flaky. Chicago isn't known for having a kind climate, and I stock up on lotions for the bitter months ahead. My new favorite is Long Winter Farm's peony-scented cream. It rubs into the skin smoothly and the scent is perfect, making me smell like a summer bouquet. I have no doubt it will be an instant mood-lifter in January and February, when cabin fever is starting to set in and all I can think about is flip-flops and summer dresses. 

For your own dose of Long Winter Farm's scented goodness, go to their Etsy shop. You also can follow Amanda on Twitter or read her blog. Enjoy!